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kik ,.,,.-. Request for Action <br /> River <br /> To Item Number <br /> Parks and Recreation Commission 7.2 <br /> Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br /> Discussion Item March 2,2017 Tim Sevcik,Park Superintendent <br /> Item Description Reviewed by <br /> Deer Hunt Update Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director <br /> Reviewed by <br /> Action Requested <br /> Discuss the 2016 Controlled Archery Deer Hunts. <br /> Background/Discussion <br /> In 2016 the Parks and Recreation Department held its first ever controlled archery deer hunts which were <br /> conducted in Woodland Trails Regional Park, Sedge Meadow Park,Birch Meadow Park, Harris Island <br /> Park, and Camp Cozy. Hunter selection was conducted in August via a lottery drawing;20 applications <br /> were received and 9 primary and 11 alternate hunters selected. Hunters received a deer hunt orientation <br /> from City Staff and the local Conservation Officer. Hunts initially took place on Monday,Tuesday and <br /> Wednesday of each week and later Sundays were added to allow for greater hunter participation. Ten <br /> hunters took place in the hunts and hunted a total of 139 times. Nine deer were harvested and consisted <br /> of one buck and eight does. <br /> Following the completion of the hunts,hunters were invited to provide feedback on the hunts and <br /> provide recommendations for future hunts. Positive feedback from the hunters included the volunteer <br /> hunt manager Wayne Becklin, opportunity to hunt close to home,interaction with park users and <br /> adjacent property owners, observations on the number of users in the parks,and overall safety of the <br /> hunts. Recommendations included adding more days to the hunt to allow for increased opportunity, <br /> adding boundary signs to properties to more easily identify limits,provide information about the hunts <br /> earlier in the year. Additionally,two comments were made about the number of dogs off leash in the <br /> parks and number of encroachments by adjacent property owners into the parks. <br /> Discussion between the hunt volunteers and staff was conducted following the meeting to determine <br /> changes for the 2017 hunts. Recommendations discussed included adding Hillside City Park with four <br /> hunt zones,Meadowvale Park with one hunt zone,Burr Oak Park with one hunt zone and Alba Ridge <br /> Park with 1 hunt zone. Additionally,no alternates would be selected for the hunts;however two hunters <br /> would be selected for each hunt zone resulting in 30 hunters selected to participate. Hunts would be <br /> conducted every day of the week throughout the Minnesota archery deer season and hunters would be <br /> allowed to harvest up to two deer (managed hunt) pending MN DNR regulations. <br /> Financial Impact <br /> None <br /> Attachments <br /> None <br /> P 0 ■ EAE ® 11 <br /> Template Updated 4/14 NATURE <br />